With Michael "Mimi" Kraus (39), another handball professional dares to dance on the dance floor of "Let's Dance". At the start of the "Who is dancing with whom? The big introductory show", the 39-year-old made a solid first appearance with his 14 jury points for a quick step. But will he be able to hold a candle to his long-time teammate Pascal "Pommes" Hens (42)?

This seems to have inspired him, because "Pommes" surprisingly won "Let's Dance" in 2019. Kraus "of course particularly enjoyed following that season", he says in an interview with the news agency spot on news.

He cannot yet guarantee whether he will increase his score at the same level in the future. "If we were to talk about dancing skills on the nightclub dance floor, I would rate them significantly higher than my ballroom or Latin skills - as of now!" he says.

According to the ex-professional handball player, the dance training should not be underestimated: "In the first units you noticed how exhausting dancing really is and how attentive you have to be." If he forgot part of the choreography during the live show, it would be a "nightmare" for him.

As a professional athlete, however, he always has ambition and always goes beyond his limits. This also seems to apply to his choice of dance costume. "I'm relatively pain-free, if I have to I dance naked - well, almost," says Kraus.

Michael "Mimi" Kraus played handball for HSV Hamburg and the Bundesliga club Göppingen, among others, and achieved great sporting success there. In 2007 he became world champion with the German national handball team.

Starting next Friday (February 24, from 8:15 p.m. live on RTL and RTL), Kraus will fight with his dance partner Mariia Maksina (26) for the title "Dancing Star 2023". Because then the actual competition of the 16th season of "Let's Dance" begins.